MMA Mrs Vanderbilt Floral Evening Shoe Ornament hand painted

MRS. VANDERBILT'S FLORAL EVENING SHOE America, early 20th century One of the most important figures of twentieth-century New York Society was Mrs. Grace Graham Wilson Vanderbilt, who was married to Cornelius Neily Vanderbilt III, grandson of Cornelius The Commodore" Vanderbilt, founder of the dynasty. Neily was in line to inherit most of the family fortunes, estimated at over $50 million, but when he insisted on marrying Grace, whom his parents thought was an adven-turess, his share of the wealth was reduced to only $500,000 plus the proceeds from a million-dollar trust. Not only did the Vanderbilt clan shun the couple after their marriage, but the older Vanderbilts encouraged their social allies to boycott any event that the young couple or the bride's family might attend. Grace had her revenge. Shortly after she and Neily were married in 1896, Grace started entertaining and made it her full-time profession to throw the most extravagant and well-attended parties in New York City. An evening might include entertainment and a lavish meal for several hundred guests. On such occasions the hostess would wear dazzling jewelry, a beautiful dress- and exquisite shoes. A pair of her green and pink evening slippers, and the dress Mrs. Vanderbilt wore with them, are in the Museum's Costume Institute. The Museum's adaptation of the shoe is hand painted and comes with a gold cord for hanging. Wipe only with a soft, dry cloth; do not use abrasive cleansers. THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART